Columns

From the category archives: Opinions

FR. RAYMOND DE SOUZA

At the heart of every culture is its cult. Cult includes what is worshipped, what is placed at the centre of communal life, what is deemed worthy of the greatest exertions of talent and treasure. more . . .

Last night, during our family prayer, my 15-year-old son raised a topic that he read in the WCR entitled "Vatican official blasts Nobel Prize selection," referring to the selection of British scientist Robert Edwards, as a Nobel Prize winner for the development of in vitro fertilization (IVF). My son cannot understand why there was so much controversy around this Nobel Prize. more . . .

This month marks the 30th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s second encyclical, Rich in Mercy. While John Paul’s first encyclical, Redeemer of Humanity, showed how Jesus reveals man to himself, Rich in Mercy spoke of how Jesus reveals the Father. What Jesus reveals about the Father is love, in particular, his mercy. more . . .

FR. RON ROLHEISER, omi

In my more reflective moments, I am sometimes forced to ask myself: Am I really interested in God or am I only interested in things about God? Am I more interested in teaching, speaking and writing about God than I am in actually meeting God, one to one, in prayer and silence? more . . .

BOB MCKEON

This past August, the eyes of a nation were upon a rusty cargo ship, the Sun Sea, carrying 492 Tamil men, women and children as it approached Vancouver Island. There was a heated debate about the state of Canada’s immigration and refugee policies and the integrity of Canada’s borders. more . . .

The massacre of 58 Catholics in Baghdad’s Our Lady of Salvation Cathedral Oct. 31 was far from being the worst incident of violence since the U.S. invasion of the country in 2003. But it was the worst slaughter of Christians and it occurred in a place of worship. The event may well drive nails into the coffin of the Church in that blood-stained country. more . . .

FR. RON ROLHEISER, omi

In the early pages of the Bible, we are given a series of stories that describe the human condition and give reasons why things are as they are. We are most familiar with the story of Adam and Eve, eating the forbidden fruit, the one we call the “original sin” story. more . . .

MARK PICKUP

The first snowfall of the season fell overnight. I suppose that children throughout the city awoke to the surprise and excitement of seeing snow on the ground. My grandchildren were no exception. They looked out the window and danced gleefully around the living room. My four-year-old granddaughter asked to hear Christmas music. Christmas music in October? Sure, why not! more . . .